Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Division of Student Affairs. | Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

Name: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Division of Student Affairs.

Historical Note:

Over the years the units composing the Student Affairs Office varied, until 1972 when Student Affairs became the general organization to deal with matters pertaining to students. The Student Center, Health Service, Student Life, Student Services, Student Work and Financial Assistance, and University Housing are all units that have been placed within this grouping. The responsibilities of the Student Affairs Office are currently directed by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

A specific office for the supervision of students at Southern Illinois University did not exist before the appointments of the first Dean of Women and Men. Lucy K. Woody was the first Dean of Women; Eli G. Lenz was the first Dean of Men. By 1948, just before Southern Illinois University came under the jurisdiction of its own Board of Trustees, student services and affairs were under the supervision of the Dean of Women and Dean of Men, with special divisions for Veterans Housing, Residence Halls, and a Veteran's Guidance Center.

The 1951 Statutes of the Board of Trustees provided for an Office of Student Affairs, an independent unit which was composed of the Student Activities Office, Student Special Services Office and the Counseling and Testing Service. Student Affairs was administered by a Director reporting to the President and included the Dean of Men and the Dean of Women as staff members. In 1952 the Student Employment Supervisor was also responsible to the Director of Student Affairs.

In 1952, the Student Employment Office was made a part of Student Affairs. It was detached from the Office of Student Affairs and made a part of the Placement Office in 1954, and made an independent unit, the Student Work Office, in 1955.

In 1956, Student Affairs consisted of three divisions: Student Special Services (including the Student Housing Center, the Student Financial Assistance Center, the Student Counseling and Testing Center and the Student Activities Development Center later Student Development). In 1962 a Student Welfare Office was added to Student Affairs. This office was concerned with general student life: Freshman convocations, services to the disabled, motor vehicle regulations, student files, and discipline withdrawals.

The Bylaws and Statutes of the Board of Trustees approved July 1, 1964 provided for a division of Student Services, which included as subordinate units the Office of Student Affairs, the Health Service Division and the Student Work Office. Area Services and Student Services were combined under a Vice President for Student and Area Services. Ralph W. Ruffner was appointed to this position. Included within the Student Services Division were the already existing Student Health Service, Student Affairs, and Special Student Services. Student Affairs was in turn composed of Student General Affairs (the former Student Welfare Office), Counseling and Testing, and Student Activities. Housing was made an operational responsibility of Student Affairs in 1965 (fiscal responsibility rested with the Vice President for Business Affairs), and Financial Assistance was added in 1966.

On June 16, 1972, Student and Area Services were again separated when the Board of Trustees created the Vice President for Student Affairs. Bruce Swinburne was appointed to fill this office (see RG 13). Student Services became a subordinate unit falling under the broader classification, Student Affairs (see RG 79 for material on Student Services).